We knew it was coming and now it’s happened; protestors are suing the city of Ferguson, St. Louis Country and police officials in Missouri for violating their civil rights with tanks, rubber bullets and tear gas earlier this month. America, fuck yeah!
According to NBC News, the law suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis and seeks over $40 million from Ferguson, St. Louis County, Police Chief Thomas “We gave you that burglary video because you asked for it, media” Jackson and other officers for alleged violations starting on August 11. Two of the plaintiffs include a woman and her son who were arrested on August 13 during the police’s fast food restaurant sweep that roped in Washington Post journalist Wesley Lowery. Lowery was arrested and never charged with a crime.
Malik Zulu Shabazz, president of Black Lawyers for Justice, one of three legal groups representing the plaintiffs, said at a news conference outside the courthouse that other protesters could join the suit later, saying, “If they won’t police the people right, then we have to bankrupt them.” The American Civil Liberties Union has filed separate litigation over the police response.
This news comes as the third week following the shooting of Brown comes to a close and Officer Darren Wilson has yet to be located, arrested or charged with a crime in the fatal shooting on August 9.